OHSU fined by USDA for monkey deaths and escapes at Oregon National
Primate Research Center in 2009

By Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian, Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Oregon Health & Science University has been fined $11,679 for
incidents that led to the escape of nine monkeys and deaths of five at
its primate research center in Hillsboro, the USDA announced today.

The university's Oregon National Primate Research Center was found to
be in violation of the Animal Welfare Act, which regulates treatment for
animals used in research or for commercial purposes.

All five deaths occurred in the months following an April 2009 escape
of nine macaques, all of which were captured within days. One monkey
died from improper sedation, and two died from dehydration from a
malfunctioning drinking apparatus. In addition, one died and one was
euthanized after being given the incorrect medication.

In a May letter to the university about the disciplinary action, the
USDA acknowledged the fine was "much lower than the maximum civil
penalty," which could have reached up to $10,000 per violation.

Michael Budkie, of the Ohio-based Stop Animal Exploitation Now
organization, said the low penalty amount sends a troubling message.

"They're literally being allowed to get away with murder," he said.
"They're getting away with it essentially because this is what we like
to call 'science.'"

OHSU said it will pay the fine in full, and that the center has
already implemented controls that responded to each incident. Those
include a secondary fence, and retraining for the employees who
mistakenly administered the sedative or medication.

OHSU spokesman Jim Newman said 2009 was a "very unusual year," and
the institution made quick adjustments to address the incidents.

"We took them all very seriously," he said.

The 2009 incidents resulted from human error and differed from animal
cruelty, he said.

"These are four disconnected, separate incidents involving things
that hadn't been dealt with before," he said.

An institution such as the primate center recognizes it can't be 100
percent error-free, he said. "Incidents like these occur."

The Hillsboro center has been criticized in the past by animal rights
advocates. In 2008, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
claimed the center showed a "climate of abuse" after obtaining internal
records detailing monkey deaths and injuries.

OHSU added training and banned a researcher from animal contact in
response to some of the incidents, but PETA's complaints later led to a
warning letter from the USDA. Newman said that was rare for OHSU.

The center, which currently has about 4,800 monkeys, has spot
inspections about twice a year by the USDA. The 2009 incidents were
reported by the university, Newman said, and were investigated
separately from the inspections.